Opening my eyes I feel light, like a weight had been lifted from me and my heart was free. It was a strange feeling and one I'm not sure I can explain but it is like everything that happened to me in the past has less of a hold on me now.
"Legolas," I whisper as I turn my head to see him beside me, he is no longer naked as I still am, although I am covered by a sheet at least, instead he is dressed and is sitting on a chair watching me.
"You are okay?" he says although it sounds like a question more than a statement.
"I feel… I feel amazing," I smile after a second and the relief that breaks out into his expression is so overwhelming that I feel tears pooling in my eyes.
"I'm sorry I worried you," I say after a minute when I have control over myself again and he smiles.
"You saved our lives my love,"
"Yes okay but I was apologising for worrying you," I say and he laughs at that and it is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. I had forgotten how much I loved his laugh, how long it is since I had heard it.
"You are truly back to yourself Slima," he says eventually.
"Where are the others?" I ask after a minute and his smile falters slightly before becoming brighter than ever.
"They are waiting for news, Gandalf said that you would have faded by midday if it was not successful,"
"But it was,"
"Yes my love, and I thank the Valar for that, but your brother and your father, the others they do not know yet, they are awaiting news in the throne room, Haldir has also travelled back and my father is on his way,"
"We should surprise them then," I say feeling man old spark of mischief in me and I can see the twinkle in his own eye as he catches on to what I am suggesting.
An hour later and Legolas has helped me wash and dress, it is very strange to think that we had been with each other completely especially when I still feel so shy and self conscious around him.
"I… last night… I know that…" I'm not sure what I am trying to tell him or why I have become so tongue-tied all of a sudden so I pause and look up at him desperately through the mirror as he braids my hair.
"Last night was about saving your life Slima. A strange magic but one that I am truly glad for and I am once again thankful to the Valar for blessing us with being part of the Eldar," he whispers,
"Yes but…"
"Angel we must marry and marry soon because you may become round with child but I will not count it and neither shall you until we are truly married and together for the right reasons," he smiles and I return the smile before leaning up and kissing him.
"How long has it been since I told you, you were perfect.
"Come then Slima, it is time that we put your family and your protectors out of their misery," he chuckles and smiling brightly I stand up with his help and we make our way to the throne room.
As we reach the huge oak doors which are shut tight a sudden apprehension fills me. I know they will be pleased to see me, I'm not nervous about that, they are my family they love me as I do them. I think I may be scared to see the worry on their faces, in the postures they have taken every slight against me so badly it is painful and this time I'm scared I have pushed them over the edge.
Legolas told me that they had thought me dead and my heart pounds painfully at the anguish they must have felt. All I have to do is think back to when Boromir was shot or Aragorn fell and the grief and guilt that had threatened to overwhelm and consume me completely.
"Arriana?" Legolas whispers beside me and looking up at him I let out a little huff of air before I give his arm a squeeze and push open the doors.
For a second nobody moves or says anything. The silence is deafening as they stare at me and then with a shout Boromir is across the hall and I am in his arms as he tries to crush me into him completely. I mean I literally can't breathe,
"Boro… dad… you're killing me here I literally can't breathe," I gasp out eventually and he laughs loudly even though he is crying too.
"My little girl, my perfect, brave, stupid little girl," he gushes making me blush and Faramir laugh as he too embraces me tightly now that Boromir had finally put me down.
"You realise that you are never leaving these walls again," Faramir says as he kisses my head,
"But…"
"Never, your rooms, yours and Legolas' once you are married are close to mine and the Faramir's and you will stay where I can keep you safe at last," Boromir says vehemently and I don't have the heart to argue with him so I just smile and hug him again, that is a problem to tackle later I feel.
"It is good to see you well little one I was worried," Haldir says and I grin at him,
"You know me love a drama," I say back and he laughs at that before telling me all about the new settlement he is building with the elves who had not yet sailed. It sounds amazing I can't wait to go and visit and Legolas says that once we are married we can go and visit, as long as I can get passed Boromir that it.
Sometime later I whisper to Legolas that I am heading out for some air, of course he and the others know that I am going to find Aragorn and Boromir has already told me that he will be by the white tree.
"Hey," I say quietly as I approach him, knowing that even though I am light of foot and he has his back to me facing the horizon he has heard me.
"I am glad you are well," he says rather stiffly and for a second I don't know how to reply, he has never been like this before, in fact he has always been the most open of all of them, except maybe Boromir.
"Yes, well, I think I have you to thank for that," I try and still he does not face me.
"No, I did nothing," he says in that same stiff voice an edge of bitterness edging into his tone now.
"What's wrong Aragorn?" I ask now worry creeping into my mind as I stand frozen behind him.
"Nothing my Lady I am quite well,"
"What are you doing? Why are you being like this? I am your sister tell me what is wrong," I plead panic beginning to build in me.
"I am no brother to you Arriana," he says now and I want to cry,
"Don't do this Aragorn, everything I did was to help you, for you why are you shutting me out?"
"Because I failed you?" he screams as he spins to face me, tears glistening in his eyes, and for a second I can't react until anger fills me.
"No you didn't," I yell back,
"You nearly died," he shouts as if that is explanation enough,
"So did you, when you fell," I add as he looks confused,
"That is not the same,"
"Why not, you told me it was not my fault, that it was your battle and this was too,"
"I should have saved you, your whole life you have been alone and vulnerable because I wasn't there, I am your older brother I should have been there to protect you," he shouts trailing off as he loses his energy, his whole body seeming to slump with exhaustion.
"You were there when I needed you most. It was my fight Aragorn, I had to do it alone and now you can be there just as you have since the beginning of this whole thing, a strength when I need it. You have always been so such a solid reassurance and support beside me when everything else is difficult please don't leave me now, I would not survive that," I say and before I can blink I am in his arms and I can feel his tears in my neck. I understand his guilt, it is the same guilt I felt when I thought he had fallen all that time ago at Helms Deep.
"I believe we have a wedding to plan for then little princess," he says quietly after a while when he has regained control of himself and I smile as we both turn to look out over the horizon.
"What is that?" I ask as frown at something burning in the distance and I turn to see him frowning too.
"Rogue orc packs are still roaming the lands and we have not yet the strength of arms to destroy them," he sighs and my frown deepens.
"But we must destroy them before they gain strength," I say and he turns to give me a brief smile,
"Do not worry little one they will not build strength for sometime and we will have rebuilt our own strength before then,"
"You better not cut me out of these plans if you want me to help rule," I say and he laughs then,
"I would not dare," he grins back,
"I wonder," I say aloud as I stare at the white tree,
"What is it little one?"
"Remember that story about the tree, how it will bloom again now your king?" I ask and he nods, "My power it made things come to life around Mordor I wonder if…" I trail off taking his hand and closing my eyes as I concentrate and a second later I feel the energy reach out to the tree and the gasp from Aragorn forces me to open my eyes and see the tree come alive. I smile as I look up at him and he smiles down at me.
"Let us return to the others little sister or I will have a very angry Captain of Gondor and Prince of the Woodland Realm on the lookout for me," he laughs and gently pulls my arm through his before tugging me in the direction I had come from earlier. I can't help glancing back though a frown once again finding its way onto my face as I see the spires of smoke rising into the air, there was still much to do I could sense it and I couldn't work out whether I was excited or not. I mean a part of me was so fed up of all the drama and adventure and ready just to settle down and live happily ever after but the other part knew that I would be bored quickly and there was that part that craved the adventure.
So there it is the first instalment of a sequel I wasn't really planning on writing so let me know if you are enjoying it and whether I should continue. I'm quite enjoying it actually but will gladly accept any constructive criticism, ideas or requests for story lines, plot twists, pairings etc. Anyway let me know and I hope you enjoy it.